GOFFSTOWN - Goffstown's Glen Lake has
been closed until June 25th due to chemical treatment by
NH DES this week to eradicate milfoil found in a 2.38
acre area of the lake's northwest corner. The
patch of variable milfoil is in an area known among lake
residents as "Turtle Island", the smaller of
Glen Lake's two islands, directly abutting the new
Miller's Landing development project.

Glen Lake is 138 acres in size during normal summer
water levels.

The
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES)
verified the existence of variable milfoil growth in
Glen Lake in August of last year.

As this is a new infestation, DES coordinated an
herbicide treatment for the milfoil and will be
absorbing 100% of the treatment costs as is their policy
when dealing with new infestations to a water body.

DES has also developed a long-term
milfoil management plan for Glen Lake
that outlines how management of the problem should be
carried out over the next several years. This
management plan is a required element of submitting a
permit application to the Dept of Agriculture to get a
permit to do work on Glen Lake. Aquatic Control
Technologies, Inc. out of Sutton, MA was selected to do
this job (there are only two licensed aquatic
applicators in New Hampshire, and based upon bids
submitted by each of them, ACT was selected).

DES also encourages residents and property owners on
Glen Lake to consider the following:

Form
an official lake association
DES biologists would be happy to come to Glen Lake to
give a presentation about how to do this.

Work
with the town of Goffstown to set aside funds for the
future (through a warrant article or other means)
should future herbicide treatments or other management
practices be needed. Many other towns have done this,
and DES is willing to set up a meeting to help
accomplish this. DES pays for 100% of the first
management effort, and then repeat management
practices can be matched by up to 50% of the total
cost. They also do diving and bottom barrier placement
for free.

During
the open water seasons, if you notice milfoil
fragments drifting by your waterfront area, or
settling on the bottom, please hand-remove the piece
carefully, and dispose of it in the trash or in the
woods, away from the lake.